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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rash · temple · wave · squash · branch · stand · pound · current

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. rash — a series
  3. branch — a division
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. current — of water
  9. rash — hasty
  10. current — electric
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. squash — the sport
  16. stand — to bear
  17. squash — to crush
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. pound — a weight
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. current — happening now
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. wave — with your hand

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com